Inflorescence not exceeding imbricate bracts. Male flowers with outer tepals inserted at base of floral axis; outer tepals free or fused; inner tepals inserted above on floral axis, reduced and 2- or 3-toothed, or 2 or 3 hyaline tepals, usually with small dark gland on inner surface; stamens usually twice the number of inner tepals; anthers often black. Female flowers with perianth absent or outer tepals 2 or 3, inserted at base of floral axis; inner tepals inserted above on floral axis, 2 or 3, usually erect, hyaline, sometimes with small gland on inner surface; ovary with simple style branches.
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Female flowers with perianth absent and so ovary appearing to be distinctly shortly pedicellate | Eriocaulon australasicum |
| Female flowers with 2 or 3 outer tepals and 3 inner tepals; ovary sessile | 2 |
| 2 | Leaves more than 20 cm long; inflorescence with scape at least 30 cm long | Eriocaulon australe |
| Leaves up to c. 8 cm long; inflorescence with scape 1–12 cm long
Back to 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Bracts of inner flowers with white hairs on outer surface towards apex, membranous; male flowers with inner tepals fused into a short obconical tube, tube more or less equal to lobes | Eriocaulon scariosum |
| Bracts of inner flowers glabrous; male flowers with inner tepals fused into an obconical tube, tube much longer than lobes
Back to 2 | Eriocaulon carsonii |
